Knit, Inc Designs
Beary Comfy Jumper by Sinéad Cahir
My daughter loves her stuffed bears. She has so many bears that it's hard to keep track of them all! This guy, Ben, is probably her favourite (but don't tell her other bears). I've knit jumpers for them before, but I didn't like seaming the edges & sewing on the sleeves. This pattern is knit in the round based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's genius EPS system, so the only seams you have to sew are a few stitches under each arm. It's also a really quick knit as it uses bulky weight yarn. Perfect! I think Ben looks rather dashing in his new jumper. Don't you?
SIZE
This jumper fits a Bear Factory bear that has a chest measurement of 18", a neck of 13" and a torso length of 7" but you can customise it to fit a smaller bear by using lighter weight yarn.
MATERIALS
James C Brett Passion[ 70% acrylic, 30% wool; 160yds per 100gm skein] 1 skein of Shade P1. 5 stitch markers Darning needle Wasteyarn US #10/6 mm 16" circular needle and dpns.
GAUGE
4 stitches to 1" in stockinette stitch using US #10/6mm needle
PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is worked in the round, based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's percentage system. The sleeves are knit on double pointed needles (or flat, if you prefer) and joined to the body. The yoke uses raglan decreases.
PATTERN
Body
Cast on 84 stitches. Place a marker for the start of the round and work in K2P2 ribbing for 1". Knit until the piece measures 4" from the cast on edge. Place 7 stitches on waste yarn at each side of the sweater for the sleeves. These stitches will be grafted to the sleeve stitches later on. Be sure that the stitches are halfway between the centre front and the centre back so the sleeves are in the right place! Put the work aside and make the sleeves.
Sleeves (make 2)
Using double pointed needles cast on 28 stitches. Work K2P2 rib for 1" and then knit until the sleeve measures 3 1/2". Place the centre 7 stitches on waste yarn for uniting to thebody.
Unite the sleeves to the body
Knit the body until you come to the first set of stitches you have placed on waste yarn. Place a marker and knit the sleeves onto the circular needle for the body, making sure that the sleeve stitches on waste yarn are facing the body stitches on waste yarn. Place another marker, knit around to the second set of held stitches and join the second sleeve. Place another marker and knit to the end of the round. 112 stitches are now on the circular needle.
Yoke Decreases
Begin the raglan decreases immediately as follows: Knit to the first marker and K2tog using one stitch before the marker (from the body stitches) and one stitch after the marker (from the sleeve stitches). Knit to the next marker and ssK using one stitch from the body and one from the sleeve. Knit to the third marker and SsK using one stitch from the body and one from the sleeve. Knit to the fourth marker and K2tog using one stitch from the body and one from the sleeve. Knit to the end of the round. Repeat this round 13 more times until there are 56 stitches on the needle.
Neck
Work in K2P2 ribbing for 1”" and cast off loosely. You want to be sure the jumper will fit over your bears head!
Graft the Underarm Stitches
Pick up the stitches you placed on waste yarn earlier onto double pointed needles. Graft the stitches together using Kitchener Stitch. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, here's a good YouTube Video: Kitchener Stitch. Sometimes you can be left with a small hole on either side of the grafted stitches where the fabric has stretched a bit. You can tighten these up with a couple of sewn stitches if required. Weave in any remaining ends and try it on your favourite bear. They're sure to be nice and snug in their beary comfy jumper!
Use of this Pattern
This pattern is Copyright 2012, Sinéad Cahir. All rights reserved. Reproduction and redistribution in any form is prohibited. For personal, non-commercial use only. If you wish to use the pattern for commercial_ purposes, please contact me at knitinc@gmail.com Please visit my blog at http:/knitinc.net.
